Cigarette snuffer with sand renewing means



Oct. 7, 1952 M. c. F OX-- 2,612,896

CIGARETTE SNUFFER WITQ SAND RENEWING MEANS Filed May 16. 1949 MARVIN 0. FOX

Zmnentor ..I'.':.urther provide means. 'for Patented Oct. 7, 1952 OFFICE CIGARETTESNUFFER WIT-H SAND RENEWING Marvin o. Fox, Seattle, washthassignoriof onehalf to William 0. Young, SeattIQ, Wash.- I

1 .AnplicationMay 1c, 1949, sen-aim. cases debris, as well as cigarettes, "can be separated from thesand periodically "and the sand returned to the tray with a minimum of inconvenience,

In public places it is quite common to employ rather large trays or "in-some: instances. urns,

which are filled with sand 'andwhich areused' by the public, insuch places, asa receptaclefor all sorts of "trash in addition to the snu'iifing ofcigarettes and cigars. An inspection of such ash filled receptacles will show themto collect such things "as "apple -cores;"*crumplednp' cigarette packages, which have been emptied, paper drinking cups, chewing gum wrappers, and, in 'fact, almostanything that the individual desires to dispose of.- It has beeni'eund necessary -'to'frequently clean theserfirst, becausethe'debris accumulated is unsightly and fires' are apt to be started, which if "they are -not*dangerous, are most annoying. 'Consequently, it'isfcommon for {an employee to be constantly cleaning "such, "receptacles, This *is not an easy taskins'rrrg normalmean's, suc'has a perforated spo'onor ladle or the like, and the person doing the worn has to repeatedly dispose of'small quantities of debris. "All of this is time-consuming and objectionable.

It is particularly true in, theatres-and eating es- 'tablls'hments that are normally busiest at certain peak hours "and 'it is at these; periods employees are also busiest and 'least tavailableior maintenance.

'With mypresent cigarette fsnufling means. I

provide-a sand-filledtray or panwhi'ch is mounted on trunnions sothat it maybe unlatched "and quickly dumped into the main body of .a "container. 7 "wardly. 'engagesa sloping "screen; where the sand particles that are in good condition pass on The sand as it is "dropping downthrough the screen and the-{debris andany'sand that may be clotted from moisture and the like,

:slides ofi the screen into a bottom receptacle, and 'I have found that this"bottom-receptacle "should be of such 'a size that it will-reqdlre cleaning. at'most,:once:a clay.

the convenient replacement :of. theirsandg-sothat .itrmay be quickly accomplished zandfldone Yeven finzthe presence *of 5 fllaims. (Cl.a131-235),

patrons of a public place without offensive handling of trash or spilling of sand or the like.

' The principal object of my present invention therefore is to provide "a sand-filled tray for snumng cigarettes, together with means for screening out of the sand any cigarettes or other debristhat maybe deposited in thesame.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for association with a cigarette snuifing tray which will segregate thesand from the trash depositing'the trash in a large storage receptacle and depositing the sand ina container which is used'forreplacing the sand that has been dumped from the pan.

A further object of my invention is to provide an air-tight storage. chamber for debris which has a funnel-shaped cover adapted to direct debris through a central orifice, whichin turn maybe closed automatically after each use and thusprovide achamber which normally will become filled with carbon dioxide and effectively extinguish any lighted materials that may get into :the receptacle. 7 v Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the-drawings, or maybe comprehended orare inherent in the device.

In the drawings:

Figure '1 is a perspective view showing one-preferred form of my device;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the vertical plane embracing the line 2-2 :of Figure 1; 1

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure2-but illustrating the manner of replacing the sand in my tray; I

'Figure lillustrates an alternate construction wherein the storage chamber is mechamcally opened andclosed for the receptionof debris.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, I have illustrated one preferred manner in which my invention may be employed. It-should,- of-course, be borne in mind that-the principle :might be employed in devices of "much reduced size, such as would be suitable-fohusein automobiles; airplanes or on boats or even in the private home. Theform 'I have elected to'illustrateis-oi the type that would be usedin a public place and it-would normally be the urn type.

iihe numeral l0 designates generally the main housing of my design." This in its simplest "form may be tubular and normally be open at topand bottom, although it may be reinforced at these pointswith an'annular rim orbead. At its' top housing the tube I 0 is normally--providedwith a by the service man and released from flange l2. 4

during the tipping of the tray, as suggested by the dotted line position of the same in'Figu're' 2. It will be noted that the balance of the rim, the

portion 22, has an outside diameterslightly 1 than the inside diameter of housingtube so that the pan may be swung downint housing It! for dumping purposes.

4 38 and pan [6. This linkage consists of the length of the vertically disposed bar 45, which is slotted and operates in guides, so that it is capable of vertical movement. At its lower end, it is connected by link 46, to a crank-arm 48, which in turn is fixedly secured to cover 38. At its upper end, bar 45 is provided with a foot member 50, sothat when the pan, 5 -is released by pulling out a clip 20, spring 52 .will'move bar 45 upwardly and open cover 38. This can only be done when pan I6 is being dumped and then as pan, [6 is brought back into its normal position'and locked, it presses upon foot member 50,

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawing, it will.be..

noted that as the debris is dumped from pan IE, it falls upon the sloping, preferably, wire screen 24. This screen will freely passall dry sandand the balance together with the accumulated debris such as cigarettes, apple cores and the like, will slide down the same and be discharged through the restricted opening 26. l The sand, on the other hand, as it passes through screen 24, will be caught by the sloping plate or bafif'le 28 and will be directed downwardly through an opening, as 30 in housing [0, into the sand receiving bucket 32. The bucket 32 has hingedly secured, as at 54, toits lower corner, the guide block 56. This guide block has at its lower end a guide member 58, which is adapted for vertical movement within the guideway 60. This guideway is formed adjacent to and integral with the sand bucket housing 62. At its upper end, bucket 32 has hingedly secured to it, at 64, the operating or pull rod 66. This rod terminates at its upper end in a cover plate 68 and, as a convenience, some form of handle, as the knob 10.

The debris as it passes through the restricted opening 26, will fall upon the funnel-like collecting surface 34. This terminates in a centrally .disposed opening 36, which is normally closed by a cover 38 counterweighted by member 39, but which will open under the urgence of added weight. The purpose of cover 38,is to prevent air circulation within the debris collecting chamber 40. And it has been found that if aircurrents can be kept out of the chamber that gradually the oxygen will be consumed by coals,-lighted ma- ;terials, and the like, entering the same and the .chamber will be substantially filled, either with carbon dioxide or inert nitrogen, so that an ex- .cellent means is provided for finally snufilng out .the burning debris and making the;- device espe- .cially safe.

At the bottom of chamber 40 I'provide aremovable tray or pan, 42. This pan is provided with a flange, as 43, and forms the actualbottom and support of my device. When it is desired to clean out the debris collected in tray 42, the most convenient manner is ,to lift-the entire device ofi of the tray,;and, this is best' performed by having someone standion flange 43, and remove main housing [0. Tray. should .have a reasonably air-tight fit into ,the bottom of housing l0, so it will require some forcetto separate the two. As soon as tray 4,2, is, exposed,

of course it is a simple matter to,;dispos e ofthe materials collected. I

In Figure 4, which is broken awayto better illustrate the construction, I havepprovided a mechanical linkage between the cover member 'eati'n'gcandy bar wrappers,

moving bar 45 downwardly and closing cover 38.

' Method of operation In using my device, the equipment is positioned, as shown in Figure 1. in which tray I 3 is substantially filled with sand and is in position to receive all the things that a public receptacle must accept. It is intended primarily, of course, for the snufiing out of cigarettes and cigars by pressing them, lighted end'downwardly, into the sand. This has proved to'bef a very effective extinguishing means, iii'thatfthe cold body of the'sand tends to conduct the heat away 've'ryrapidly' andthis, aided by the smothering effect or the sand, quickly extinguishes such cigar'ettes'an'd cigars; I'However, all other sorts of debris are placed in containers of this order-'- refuse .from materials not fully consumed in I gum wrappers, paper drinking cups and the like. T I

Periodically, an attendant grasping latch 20, tips the pan, after the showing in Figure 2, and as the sand and debris'fall downwardly, the

sand,pass ing through screen 24, is collected and separated from-the debris, which :finds its way into the storage compartment 4U. The sand on the other hand is collected inthe sand bucket .32. As soon as pan I6 has beenemptied itis .to the upper liniitfof its guideway 60. Herethe ,san'd bucket is hinged after the fashion shown in Figure 3 and the pan re-supplied with sand.

The sand bucket is then returned to its "position of rest and cover .68 again covers up the sand bucket housing 62 and the device'is again oper- 'able. It willbe noted that this is a simple'operation that does not require carryingab'out', particularly duringbusy times, the debris r'emoved ifrom ,pan'l'fi, an'd' it is the intent of my design thatno matter how large or small the unit, it

should 'be designed with a sand capacity and a refuse storage capacitysufiicientto accommo- Ldate' the accumulationfthat would beex'pected .during a convenient servicing period.

Itis believed that it will beY'clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in' the drawings that: the invention comprehends a novel construction of, a cigarette snufi'er with e -i ew n imaans.

Havin g thus disclosed the invention, 1* claim: ,1." A. ci arette. snufier with sand renewing means. c pr s n a suppor in h us n a sa d receiving tray supported at thetopof, said supporting housing adapted to be substantially filled gwithsand; dischargemeans for discharging the contents of said traydownwardly into said sup.- porting housing: andseparating means for separating debris of larger size than the sand particles in said contents from sand in said contents and directing the separated sand to one side; a sand bucket and guide means hingedly secured to the bottom of said bucket; a sand bucket hous- ,ing positioned at one side of said supporting housing and providing a vertical guideway for said guide means so thatsaid sand bucket can travel from a lower position in which said sand bucket is disposed to receive said separated sand to an upper position where said sand bucket can be pivoted on said guide means and said separated sand can be dumped back into said sand receiving tray; and an elongated operating handle hingedly secured to the upper portion of said bucket for moving said sand bucket between its upper and lower positions.

2. A cigarette snufier with sand renewing means, comprising: a supporting housing; a sand receiving tray supported at the upper portion of said supporting housing; discharge means for discharging the contents of said tray downwardly and separating means for separating debris of larger size than the sand particles in said contents from sand in said contents; a bucket assembly consisting of a sand bucket and guide means pivotally secured to said sand bucket; a vertical guideway for said guide means secured to said supporting housing and guiding said guide means so that said sand bucket can travel from a lower position in which said sand bucket is disposed to receive the separated sand to an upper position where said sand bucket can be pivoted on said guide means and said separated sand can be dumped back into said sand receiving tray; and an operating handle secured to said bucket assembly for movingsaid sand bucket between its upper and lower positions.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 in which said vertical guideway and sand bucket assembly have key and slot means therebetween limiting said sand bucket from passing upward beyond said upper position and preventing said guide means from becoming disengaged from said vertical guideway.

4. A cigarette snufier with sand renewing means, comprising: a supporting housing; a sand receiving container supported at the top of said supporting housing; discharge means for discharging the contents of said container downwardly, and separating means, positioned below said sand receiving container in said supporting housing, adapted to separate debris of larger size than the sand particles in said contents from sand in said contents and directing the separated sand to one side of said supporting housing; a vertical guideway positioned at said side of said supporting housing; a sand bucket positioned in said vertical guideway, said guideway guiding said sand bucket from a lower position in which said sand bucket is disposed to receive said separated sand to an upper position where said separated sand in said sand bucket can be dumped back into said sand receiving container.

5. A cigarette snuffer with sand renewing means, comprising: a supporting housing; a sand receiving container supported at the top of said supporting housing; separating means, positioned below said sand receiving container in said supporting housing, adapted to separate the contents of said sand receiving means when the sand is discharged downwardly therefrom, said separating means separating debris of larger size than the sand particles in said contents from sand in said contents and directing the separated sand to one side of said supporting housing; a sand bucket housing positioned at said side of said supporting housing; a sand bucket positioned in said sand bucket housing and disposed to receive said separated sand; and means for moving said sand bucket upwards in position to dump said separated sand back into said sand receiving container.

MARVIN C. FOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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